Ideas for a One-derland reward?

melissaaridgeway

Okay, I'm needing some advice (I figured this would be the most relevant forum to post in since I don't know where else this would fit). So far I'm 64lbs down and I'm edging closer and closer to being below 200lbs. It's been about 15 years since I was below this threshold. Honestly, I never thought I would see it again, but now it's almost a reality.

Generally a "reward" for me in the past has usually been food related. A nice restaurant or a sweet treat. I don't want those kinds of rewards anymore but I'm a little at a loss on how I should celebrate this milestone accomplishment in my life. I'm not really going to be at goal weight (which is 180lbs for me to reach a normal BMI - I'm a 6'1" woman) but I still want to celebrate in some way.

Ideas I have thought about are maybe a gym membership (since it's probably time to start adding in more of a fitness routine focus when I get that low), or some kind of service like getting my hair or nails done (but idk...those two things don't seem that special to me), or maybe some kind of fun mini-vacation idea? Cruise? Maybe I should save a cruise for when I actually hit goal weight haha. I live in South Carolina if that could help for a mini-vacation idea.

Anyway, thanks in advance for any ideas! I'm so excited to be getting close (I'll probably hit it in about a month and a half if I keep losing at a regular rate, so maybe early August?) and for anyone out there struggling, don't give up! You got this. And maybe you'll be getting ideas one day for your own milestone celebration.

Lietchi

What I did for myself when I reached a big milestone (in my case a getting below obese BMI) was by myself a fancy Garmin fitness tracker to replace my old basic one. Is that something you might be interested in? I found that my fitness tracker pushed me to be more active in daily life, which was a good intermediary step for me towards exercising.

grltaz

First, Congrats on being so close to that goal. I do not enjoy exercise but intentional movement like gardening and walking my dog makes me happy. A gym membership would be considered a maintenance bill... LOL ! Do what will make you happy, motivated to stick to your healthy goals. A mani/ pedi, massage, new haircut or color are all nice. A new outfit to show off that svelte body you now have. A new puppy to motivate you to move if you do not already have fur kids. A trip anywhere that would interest you. We have done wine tours, short river cruises on mississippi, theme park (it was nice to fit into the seats on rides), tours (ghost things, historic homes, botanical center, etc). Basically anything that will make you smile and if you get some movement in with it.... BONUS !!

elizabethpikalek

Amazing job getting so far in your goals! I’m really proud of you and impressed!! Way to go!

I love plants, so when I lost my first 5 pounds I got my most desired house plant (a Swiss Cheese Monstera). The happiness I felt to do that was a huge motivator for me.

You could look at your Amazon wishlist and see if there is something you would love to have but can’t find the reasoning to get. You could visit somewhere you’d love to go but haven’t given yourself the time. Maybe you have an idea for a hobby or activity you’d always wanted to try but just haven’t yet.

What’s something you just haven’t done for yourself that you really want to do or have?

kristennoel20

Congratulations! Getting this far along is no small feat, and just based on what you said about shifting from food rewards shows you've really progressed in the way you think about food!

One thing that's fun is a mini-shopping spree. I've always hated shopping because I've been down on the way I looked since I was a teen, but something about getting new clothes a size down (or more) is such a confidence booster and further motivates me to keep up the hard work.

A mini vacation is always a plus! If you have the finances and enjoy theme parks, one thing that's a real reminder of progress is being able to fit on the theme park rides you loved. I remember having to do "the walk of shame" on one ride at Dollywood, and it was so disheartening. I can't wait to go back when I get down lower in weight and not only ride the ride, but stand in line with confidence. (As a note, I literally rode the ride a day before, but I guess fluid retention changed my ability to ride the next day - I won't have to worry that one day I'm good and the next day I might not be).

The gym membership can be a reward, but if you're not excited for it, I wouldn't cloak it in false optimism because you could become frustrated with choice to use that as a reward rather than just one of those things you "need" to do. If it is something you're excited for, but just haven't found the time, absolutely go for it. It's a great reward and in line with your goals!

Once again, congrats and keep up the good work!

cwolfman13

I don't know that I'd use a gym membership or fitness equipment as a reward...I tend to think of those things as just necessaries for my goals. The only time I ever did anything like that was when I bought my first "real" bike...like from an actual bike shop, not a big box. But it was a little bit different...I had started riding my big old heavy MTB for exercise due to an injury and decided that I really liked that form of exercise. I ultimately made a deal with myself that if I put in 100 miles on the tank I'd upgrade my equipment and get a true bike.

I didn't personally have any weight milestones to work with, or even a "goal weight"...but one thing I decided to do as a treat/reward that also embodied my goal of just taking better care of myself was to get a massage every five pounds or so...which equated to roughly once every 4-6 weeks. That became kind of a routine, so I still get a massage every 4 weeks or so.

As to your mini-vacation, in keeping with my "massage therapy" for better overall health and well being, I booked a full spa weekend for my wife and I once I had determined that I was where I wanted to be weight wise. We had two nights...the first night my wife and I enjoyed a nice dinner at the resort restaurant and the natural hot springs. The following day we had full spa treatments booked...massages, facial, manicure, pedicure and then continued to enjoy the hot springs for the remainder of the day.

If getting to below 200 is a big and important milestone for you, something like a spa day or spa weekend could absolutely be something worthwhile.

DebbsSeattle

Go for something smaller or the gym membership. A massage for a hour will be healthful and relaxing. Save the bigger bucks for goal wardrobe since you are 20# away. Depending on your family budget…you could go get a new outfit (or 5) at Goodwill. I’m halfway to my goal of 111# so I’m not investing big money in clothing yet but have been finding J. Crew, Banana Republic, Calvin Klein at Goodwill. Thus, augmenting my wardrobe with clothing that fits is not busting the budget. I asked the lady there and she said they are getting huge donations from people cleaning out pre-Covid dress code clothing since more now work from home or have returned to office with reduced dress codes. I can get skirts for $10 and blouses for $6 whereas I just did a fake shop on Macys.com and left my cart with $7500 unpurchased. I wanted to see how much a basic wardrobe would cost me new.

chris_in_cal

What a great question, I hope I have this same question soon.

How about a fancy new just slightly tight shirt, that will fit perfectly at about 195 lbs. Think positively.

melissaaridgeway

@Lietchi - I like the idea of a fitness device! I had a Fitbit for the first 3-4 months of my journey, but it died and I haven't gotten it replaced. I'll keep this in mind for sure!

@grltaz - lol on the new puppy! We just got a little dachshund pup in February BUT since the recent passing of our other dog, have considered getting a second puppy. I don't think my husband would spring for another puppy as a reward for this milestone (he's not been very supportive of my weightloss or health journey) but maybe in the near future we will get another anyway. I like the idea of a wine tour (I married a teetotaler though...) or a fun themed tour! I'll have to research what's in my area.

@elizabethpikalek - something I want to do but haven't done yet...hmm. Good question. Get another tattoo?? Lol! I got my one and only about 15 years ago and have thought about getting a 2nd one, but haven't really had a reason to spend the money (also the horror stories of terrible ones I've seen since have put me off of getting another because I lucked out with a great looking 1st one and I don't want something I'd regret if the artist ended up being subpar). But other than that, nothing is coming to mind. I wanted to do a lot of fun thrill-seeking things when I was younger and free, but I'm a married mom of 2 now and I feel like if I risk my life going skydiving now and I died, it would be a very stupid thing lol.

@kristennoel20 - a shopping spree could be fun but I don't want to waste too much money on a "transitional size" either. I feel like once I hit my goal weight of 180lbs, I want to go on a shopping spree and get a whole new wardrobe for sure, but maybe a cute top or pants or something could be something to keep in mind for this milestone. But the theme park idea is a great idea. We did just get back from Dollywood a week ago (my husband doesn't ride any rides in general and I loooove rollercoasters and fast rides....I can't remember the last time I actually went on a ride I wanted to go on but I guess the little kiddie rides are fun too because it's nice seeing the joy on my kids' faces) and for what it was, it was fun. I got tons of walking in and I think because of the walking I did, I didn't actually gain on the scale that week despite my terrible "vacation diet". Anything with lots of walking is a plus for me! As for a gym membership I am excited for it, as I see it as a logical next step in my evolution, but I also see some potential hassles of childcare standing in my way too - my MIL who I live 5 minutes from can't usually watch my kids (I'm getting a sinking feeling that she isn't overly fond of me or her grandkids but she loves her other grandkids and is willing to watch them all the time....) and working around my husband's work schedule is a pain because he doesn't want to watch the kids when he gets home from work, and I have zero friends near me who could watch them and I don't trust babysitters lol. So...I feel like I have to figure out this hurdle before I can actually crank my fitness into high gear.

@cwolfman13 - a spa day sounds lovely. I've never actually had a spa day in my life and I wouldn't even know how to go about setting one up lol. I'll have to look into something like that and see if anything local offers that kinda of thing. My aunt just became a registered masseuse (no family perks though because I want to support her small business) so I could book something with her...it's a thought.

@DebbsSeattle - thrifting might be a fun idea. I'm with you on blowing too much being 20lbs away from goal weight, so I might take a peek at what my local goodwill has to offer. When I hit that 200lb marker, I'll solidly be in the size 12 bracket, and I'm sure I'll have more options available to me in that size than I ever did in my size 20.

@chris_in_cal - a goal shirt might also be a fun idea too. I'll have to see if I can find anything tantalizing that could fit that bill.

cwolfman13

@melissaaridgeway When I did the spa weekend I booked at a spa resort and just had to book the room and the desired spa package for which treatments were also available a la carte. It was pricey, but the weekend also served as a well deserved break for my wife and I as our kids at the time were 3 and 1 and we hadn't had a weekend alone since they were born...so it was kind of a multi-occasion kind of thing. It's probably the most expensive stand alone weekend I've had in my life.

We've been back since, but only for day soaking in the springs. We've had a few spa days since at other places where we haven't overnighted and it's much more reasonable as the resort we stayed at was quite expensive just for the room, but in many ways it was worth it. It was an over 25 resort, so no kids and no young "party" adults and the grounds and natural springs for soaking were beautiful.

12Sarah2015

Congratulations! I’ve reached a milestone recently of losing 5kgs. I’ve rewarded myself with one expensive jacket for an upcoming wedding (that was 40% off)…everything else i have is opshop. I figured a jacket could be worn when I’m smaller too, and I can always sell it. It was fun just trying on all the clothes, and trying to find a bargain, even though I’ve got a long way to go too.

12Sarah2015

Do you own your house? If so buy a treadmill instead of going to the gym. It’s easier doing at night when kids are asleep. If your renting maybe buy a skipping rope or weights, resistance band or something

melissaaridgeway

12Sarah2015 wrote: »

Do you own your house? If so buy a treadmill instead of going to the gym. It’s easier doing at night when kids are asleep. If your renting maybe buy a skipping rope or weights, resistance band or something

Unfortunately I live in option #3: a camper. I have zero room for anything else (I don't even have an oven for goodness sakes....I feel like an oven is a basic human necessity lol). We will eventually build a house on our 67 acres we live on, but that's going to be at least a year down the road before we even start. In the meantime I do some running around our property and around our "neighborhood" (though last time I went out I was chased by a territorial Chihuahua and almost bitten so that was fun) but in addition to cardio, I would like to add some weighted workouts and have access to workout equipment I don't have. Also, not being chased by dogs or evil bugs the size of dogs would be a plus (I'll never get used to country life. I think I saw a horsefly the size of a Chihuahua the other day.)

jamesha100

Congratulations on reaching One-derland - great progress. It is a little sad that you do not seem to be getting much support from your husband and MiL for you weight loss journey and you certainly deserve a treat for reaching such a milestone.

The fitness tracker idea seems like a good one. I have a Garmin Vivoactive 3 and it has been very reliable for over four years and certainly makes me move more. One other piece of tech that might be worth considering if you do not have it is some smart scales. These upload your weight to an app via Wifi and make tracking really easy. They can also measure things like body fat % and calculate BMI.

For weighted exercise it might be worth getting some kettlebells. You can get a really good workout with them in 30 minutes and they take up very little storage space. There are lots of routines available on youtube and in other places.

These may not seem like proper rewards but they would hopefully really help with getting to your goal weight which is the real reward for all your hard work

mjglantz

Way to go! Why not treat yourself treat yourself to a spa day with facial, massage and mani pedi?

jonni82014

Your reward is the multitude of health and wellness benefits that your body is giving back to you.
Be present, take a long look in a full length mirror and scope out the gifts that good health and discipline has given you.
Inside and out.
If you have any negative self talk. Change the recording. Accept what you can not change, and change the things you can.
Get fitted for a really good quality, snazzy looking pair of walking or running shoes. The kind that you will want to put on.
Small steps=Big rewards

Ghostofachance

I'd second the idea for a tracker/Apple watch or a quality pair of shoes (I'm a sucker for a comfortable pair of running shoes). If you're doing a lot of walking/running, a quality pair of shoes makes the workout easier and helps prevents injury. Congratulations on all of your hard work thus far and continued success!

poisonesse

First... congrats on losing so much weight! YOU RULE! Second, some ideas for a treat... believe it or not, when I decided I deserved a real treat, I bought myself new underwear! It was such a treat to not be wearing the baggy huge ones anymore! You could make it a new pair of pants or shorts, or a new top... something to show off your new bod! A set of weights so you can workout from home? (I bought myself some kettle bells when I hit the 35 pound mark, and love those bad boys!) A new pair of exercise shoes, so you can exercise in comfort AND style. Kind of food related, an air fryer! 😂 I love mine so much that I now have 3 of them, and use them almost daily. (Tonight for dinner I used 2 of them at the same time, so I didn't have to cook in batches.) Makes food prep so fast and easy, easier to clean than an oven, doesn't heat up the house in summer, and little or no oil needed, so healthy cooking! A new hair style to show off your thinner face! But whatever you chose, remember one thing... YOU DESERVE IT! So make it something you'll love!

mollypw1994

Wow, congrats on your great progress! One idea:
Pick out a ring or bracelet you want and put it on layaway (some jewelers will do that). Each week that you lose, make a little payment on the account. If you don’t lose one week, no payment toward the balance. When you reach your goal, pay it off and enjoy it! Bonus is that if it’s a ring or bracelet, it’s visible to you when you go to reach for a cookie…. A good reminder to step away from the cookie!! 😉

JaysFan82

New running shoes are my rewards. After I finish my last 5km of the season I'm gonna reward myself with a new pair of Hoka running shoes.

chris_in_cal

jonni82014 wrote: »

Be present, take a long look in a full length mirror and scope out the gifts that good health and discipline has given you.

True! I have yo-yo'd a couple of times, and in the moment I am never convinced it is the right time to take pictures. It is. Take all the pictures you want right now, I believe you'll cherish some of those down the road.

jvand65

Congrats! I am 9 lbs shy of onederland and I feel you!! I am doing rewards that are not food related ad it is tough. For my 50lbs, I bought my self a coach purse. For my 75lb I had pearls from our 10 year anniversary trip to Maui, I am having them turned into earrings. So when I hit 100lbs I am purchasing a really nice waffle robe. Basically find something that makes you proud of your accomplishment and each time you see that item or have that memory of why you have it you will feel the same excitement of reaching the goal.

Keep up the great work!!

kristennoel20

but I also see some potential hassles of childcare standing in my way too - my MIL who I live 5 minutes from can't usually watch my kids (I'm getting a sinking feeling that she isn't overly fond of me or her grandkids but she loves her other grandkids and is willing to watch them all the time....) and working around my husband's work schedule is a pain because he doesn't want to watch the kids when he gets home from work, and I have zero friends near me who could watch them and I don't trust babysitters lol. So...I feel like I have to figure out this hurdle before I can actually crank my fitness into high gear.

Do any of the gyms near you offer childcare? I know that amenity might increase the cost, but it makes things a bit easier for parents.

avatiach

I love adding in all the self-care stuff! Yes to massage! Yes to mani-pedis! Yes to a tattoo if you want one (you can really get a good idea of the work of various tattoo artists in advance).

I just got a fitbit watch and I do like it, it is more accurate than my phone since I don't always have my phone with me.

If you join a gym...I belong to my local Y and guess what? They have free childcare, up to 2 hours a day, for while you use the gym. My kids are grown now but I did use it when they were young. So maybe see if your Y has a "childwatch" too.

melissaaridgeway

kristennoel20 wrote: »

Do any of the gyms near you offer childcare? I know that amenity might increase the cost, but it makes things a bit easier for parents.

I live in a very rural area. My closest gym is 30 minutes away. I'm unsure if it offers childcare or not, but it might. I'll have to see. I have very limited options when it comes to things in my daily life.

I miss living in a city. So much.

melissaaridgeway

I appreciate everyone's responses! Thank you so much for sharing your ideas and suggestions.

Several of you have suggested a new pair of running shoes which would be a nice things, but I have a pair I bought about 9 months ago and the tread on them is still very good. I usually wear running shoes for about 4 or 5 years before the bald tread gets to me and I have to upgrade lol. So it's a good suggestion, but it'll be another 3 years or so before I need a new pair.

A fitness device might be the best option for me for this milestone, as it would be nice to get back into measuring my steps and my workouts again. Also, I miss having a watch lol.

jbowatkinz

Amazing job, what a milestone! I'm working on a similar goal myself so this is truly encouraging!
I second what others have said about the gym membership - get one, but not as a reward, as maintenance (furthermore what exercise do you ENJOY? Maybe a yoga studio is more your hype, or a kickboxing gym? Keep it FUN). What are some self care habits you wish you did more of - what feels really indulgent without going over budget? Maybe a deluxe mani/pedi, or a cute new outfit you've always wanted but never felt ready to buy? Do something to show yourself off, you deserve it!

betseyj1009

My plan, when I get to Onederland, is to buy myself a beautiful shiny bracelet. I love silver jewelry and it's been a long time since I have bought myself anything nice like that. I will wear it every single day as a reminder of how beautiful and shiny the 'new me' is -- at least every day until I get used to being in Onederland. When I get halfway to my goal, I'll buy earrings or a necklace, and then the other at goal.

Great_Mazinga

Melissa,

I think you should aim at something that is a bit of a stretch to treat yourself with, not just something routine you might have done anyway.

I am a middle age male, so what is a treat for me will likely be much different. However, I set intermittent treats for every 10 pounds lost after the first 20. For me, this was a new and nice watch ($35-$500), but nothing extravagant for each reward. I chose these because I like a variety of watches already. My original starting goal was to lose 190lbs. Upon hitting the goal, my last reward was going to be a gold ring I wanted for a long time. I could have easily just bought any of these awards, but I wanted to make them mean something. I bought 2 watch boxes that held 8 each for a total of 16 so I could virtually “watch” my progress grow on my valet. I’m down 160 so far, so getting really close to goal, now. I haven’t bought all awards yet. 3 slots still have IOUs in them so I can take my time to enjoy shopping for what I really want. Since I’m so close, I decided to set another stretch for me to reach another 10 down. If I hit this goal and maintain for a year, I’m buying myself a luxury watch to fill the last slot. I said all that to say I used something I'm already really into and rationed them into milestones I could look forward to. The empty slots in the boxes make me want to stay consistent so I can fill them via the rules I set up. It’s really been fun. When I am done, I’ll have a displayable set I can look at to remember and celebrate the victories.

For you, it sounds like experiences and pampering are both things you enjoy. You seem less motivated by material items, and that’s probably better for you. Maybe you can document your awards, like travel or pampering as they happen and make a photo album you flip through to remember the experiences enjoy the victories all over. You can do this physically or online, or both. Flip through with friends and family and tell them your stories. You may motivate others to follow through to their own best selves.

Congratulations on your progress, and get ready to celebrate!

AmyDahlTorres

Your question really made me think. A diagnosis of metabolic syndrome (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes) shocked me out of my inertia a year ago. I hired a registered dietician to guide me through my diet overhaul. (Note: my diagnoses are now under control with my dietary, movement, and medication changes.)

Just yesterday I had a treat day and it coincidentally happened after I hit my 50 pounds loss mini-goal. I invited my bff and kids to join me at Eataly in LA, which not only has fabulous restaurants, but also amazing Italian food for sale. I "window shopped" at the fresh pasta counter, pizza counter, meat and fish counters, etc. But what I BOUGHT was produce that I can't find at home like sea beans and chanterelle mushrooms. In the past I've brought home ramps (wild leeks) and fiddlehead ferns.

This is what motivates me. Finding fresh produce and then finding recipes to enjoy them. Variety is the spice in my life, and having something to look forward to makes me happy. Best of luck to you in your journey!

AnnPT77

melissaaridgeway wrote: »

12Sarah2015 wrote: »

Do you own your house? If so buy a treadmill instead of going to the gym. It’s easier doing at night when kids are asleep. If your renting maybe buy a skipping rope or weights, resistance band or something

Unfortunately I live in option #3: a camper. I have zero room for anything else (I don't even have an oven for goodness sakes....I feel like an oven is a basic human necessity lol). We will eventually build a house on our 67 acres we live on, but that's going to be at least a year down the road before we even start. In the meantime I do some running around our property and around our "neighborhood" (though last time I went out I was chased by a territorial Chihuahua and almost bitten so that was fun) but in addition to cardio, I would like to add some weighted workouts and have access to workout equipment I don't have. Also, not being chased by dogs or evil bugs the size of dogs would be a plus (I'll never get used to country life. I think I saw a horsefly the size of a Chihuahua the other day.)

If the idea of exercise toys appeals at all, there are some very compact options that would maybe be camper-friendly, like a nice set of resistance bands or even a hanging TRX travel setup.

Another option in that range would be self-massage tools. A foam roller is nice but a little bulky, but another option is massage roller sticks, the bumpy-ball foot massagers, and other things of that nature. (I love my self-massage tools.)

On the clothes front, if it would be a boost to have some things that fit better, there are certain styles that are size-change friendly, could be bought to just fit now, but still work for quite a while. One example that carried me through a fair period of loss was some loose-leg linen pants that have an elastic-plus-drawstring waist. They're nice enough for casual office or similar not-super-casual events, as well as for casual wear - the top and accessories make a huge difference. I found some at Costco at just the right time (very affordable) so bought them in navy, black, and natural linen colors. If you wear dresses or tunic tops, the ones with a tie at the back, or a self-tie belt, are quite size-flexible, too.

I like the professional massage/spa day kind of options, too. Concert tickets or a play or other performance might be an option, too, if you like that sort of thing.

I heard wolfman's comment about a new bike at goal (upthread here, but mentioned before) , and realized I'd missed my chance to self-justify a new boat at goal weight (I'm an avid rower, sometime canoeist/kayaker). Oh, well!